But I'm thinking about getting one. Mostly it would need to be able to display on TV (HDMI?), have wireless controls and capable of simultaneous game play. This would be for my wife and I to play whatever games are multiplayer.
Which console has the best "simple" dual player games?

So it sounds like you want multiplayer co-op style gaming. Other options are, 4K play, portability, and VR.

Each manufacturer (M$,$ony, Nintendo) has their own primary model Xbox one, PS4, and switch.

In 2013 Valve began to pick away at the line between PC gaming and console gaming with steamOS a Linux based alternative that can be installed on any PC connected to a TV and controllers. Since then the NVIDIA shield was released and androidTV systems are picking further away at tebsoft line between PC and console gaming.

Each of the three main console brands has assortment of proprietary titles. Take a look at them and note what you won't have access to when you make a purchase.

From a Hardware perspective I think $ony is inches ahead of the other three. Followed by M$, and then Nintendo. The best part about the SteamOS is that you can upgrade your hardware.

When I played consoles with my wife, I liked Nintendo the most. It was the easiest to just pickup a controller and play for 30 minutes with her. If I was playing by myself I liked both Xbox 360. Most of the reason there was that I was more into Halo and gears of war than god of war.
Now I play PC games and run steam on it.

So it sounds like you want multiplayer co-op style gaming. Other options are, 4K play, portability, and VR.

Each manufacturer (M$,$ony, Nintendo) has their own primary model Xbox one, PS4, and switch.

In 2013 Valve began to pick away at the line between PC gaming and console gaming with steamOS a Linux based alternative that can be installed on any PC connected to a TV and controllers. Since then the NVIDIA shield was released and androidTV systems are picking further away at tebsoft line between PC and console gaming.

Each of the three main console brands has assortment of proprietary titles. Take a look at them and note what you won't have access to when you make a purchase.

From a Hardware perspective I think $ony is inches ahead of the other three. Followed by M$, and then Nintendo. The best part about the SteamOS is that you can upgrade your hardware.

When I played consoles with my wife, I liked Nintendo the most. It was the easiest to just pickup a controller and play for 30 minutes with her. If I was playing by myself I liked both Xbox 360. Most of the reason there was that I was more into Halo and gears of war than god of war.
Now I play PC games and run steam on it.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks - I remember a lot of my misspent youth was with Nintendo games!
Hopefully it has games with simultaneous play? Sorry if that is something different than what I had stated earlier - I remember old games where you could play against someone but you might have to wait your turn? Probably not a thing anymore (Commodore 64 lol)

I recommend building a gaming box and running steam. You get the benefit of a lot of flexibility with your rig and it can serve multiple functions such as htpc and Remote Desktop. Also steam has inbuilt streaming so that you can run the box as a server and play on any tv in the house (one user). You can use multiple controllers on each remote setup though. For example my setup is a very capable box hooked up to a projector in the den, then the steam link box in the bedroom and the app on the Samsung tv. It gives a lot of flexibility based on what I’m trying to do at any given time. Being a pc you can do really cool stuff like run an app that syncs his lights to whatever is on the screen. You can automate it however you want since it is a pc using eventghost and native remote control of plex or kodi. Then you can also get into emulation and play old school stuff. You can even get wiimotes and have an emulated wii.

If you’re going console get the Xbox one x when it comes out. It will support 4k gaming and has an ultra he blue ray drive. Also runs a version of Windows 10.

The thing about the of route is that you can do whatever you want. If you have an idea for automation of customization it’s there. Someone has written an app or coded a hack on GitHub

I have owned every Sony consoles PlayStation 1,2,3,4 and 5. I recently bought a gaming PC because PlayStation doesn't offer a lot of VR games. I think the type of games you want to play could have a factor in which is better for you. I mostly play racing games and have noticed over the years on (PS4 anyway) that games that have split screens, meaning 2 players can play at the same time have become less available. They seem to focus more on single player or online for multi player. Other consoles might be different or even other games on PS4 that I haven't played might be different.

Thanks - I remember a lot of my misspent youth was with Nintendo games!

Hopefully it has games with simultaneous play? Sorry if that is something different than what I had stated earlier - I remember old games where you could play against someone but you might have to wait your turn? Probably not a thing anymore (Commodore 64 lol)

My brother-in-law has a Nintendo switch and it does has the co-op style of games. Though I don't know how many titles do that still.

I think it depends on what kind of games you want to play. IMO opinion getting an Xbox and playing the HALO franchise Co-Op would be top of any list. Especially Halo 3 after youíve found all the skulls and enabled ďGrunt birthday PartyĒ itís epic. But first you have to play halo 1 the game is a masterpiece. I think they remastered all the Haloís on Xbox one as Masterchief collection. Then there would be Nintendo Mario Cart would be my second choice. I currently play One of the original Xbox live launch titles called Mechassault which happens to be associated with the best time Iíve ever had playing video games other than Goldeneye and Mario Cart on the N64 way back in the army barracks. Mariocart on the old Nintendo 64 is epic co-op gameplay. I donít really like the newer Nintendoís Mariocart because you have to use the controller as a steering wheel, and I prefer old school controller dynamics.
The Mechassault game is not available on the newer xboxes because the gameplay is too epic for the current hype and disappoint game development model which is basically why all the good games are the older ones. I play MA over XLink Kai which uses systemlink as MS shut down the original Xbox servers back in 2010. Al lot of the new games are online single player only these days. They donít even come with campaigns, they just have cut scenes on the online multiplayer games. I think the state of games currently is pathetic. Play the classics to get a reference point. Halo 1 campaign, and Halo 3 campaign. I donít really remember 2, but I know I spent a decade running around in halo 3ís campaign searching for skulls which are all on YouTube now. Just grab the Grunt birthday party skull and enable and go through the campaign. Itís hilarious! I canít say enough about the first few HALO games as you can tell.

I have owned every Sony consoles PlayStation 1,2,3,4 and 5. I recently bought a gaming PC because PlayStation doesn't offer a lot of VR games. I think the type of games you want to play could have a factor in which is better for you. I mostly play racing games and have noticed over the years on (PS4 anyway) that games that have split screens, meaning 2 players can play at the same time have become less available. They seem to focus more on single player or online for multi player. Other consoles might be different or even other games on PS4 that I haven't played might be different.

That's exactly what I had envisioned - I must have seen a commercial or advertisement way back that did a split-screen game.
As Kideon suggested, Steam games might be something I will look at.

I think it depends on what kind of games you want to play. IMO opinion getting an Xbox and playing the HALO franchise Co-Op would be top of any list. Especially Halo 3 after youíve found all the skulls and enabled ďGrunt birthday PartyĒ itís epic.
...
Play the classics to get a reference point. Halo 1 campaign, and Halo 3 campaign. I donít really remember 2, but I know I spent a decade running around in halo 3ís campaign searching for skulls which are all on YouTube now. Just grab the Grunt birthday party skull and enable and go through the campaign. Itís hilarious! I canít say enough about the first few HALO games as you can tell.

I am betting Halo is a war type game. Not sure if the wife would go for it or not. Split screen for the "Co-Op" or?

I think you have your answer right here. Go to a game store and look at the available games. See which ones you and your wife would want to play.
Then find out which game console those games can be played on.
That will narrow down your choices.